FAA has unveiled an initiative to require improved maintenance and monitoring of aircraft wiring systems.

The agency’s action stems from the 1996 explosion of TWA Flight 800. Investigators determined that a spark

in the wiring ignited vapors in the aircraft’s fuel tank.

FAA initiated the Enhanced Airworthiness Program for Airplane Systems (EAPAS), which combines near and

long-term actions to monitor wiring system degradation and implement improved procedures for wiring

maintenance and design.

The near-term elements of the EAPAS plan are intended to accomplish rapid safety improvements

based on existing data. These actions, which are now mostly complete, include promoting adoption of better

wiring maintenance procedures through a "lessons learned" document from aircraft manufacturers.

Longer-term actions in the EAPAS plan are designed to revise and update existing federal regulations concerning

design, certification, maintenance and continued airworthiness of aircraft wiring systems.

EAPAS’ longer-term actions also will improve reporting and analysis of wire problems and foster research

and development in the areas of arc fault circuit breakers, automated wire inspection tools, wire separation

and wire performance, FAA said. The agency said it would take immediate action to order airlines to improve

 the maintenance of wiring systems and that all actions should be implemented by 2004.